THESE 24 BRANDS WHISPER QUIET LUXURY

Founded: 1953
City: Milan, Italy
Instagram: @agnonaofficial
SSENSE says: Like a number of the best quiet luxury brands, Agnona began life as a dedicated fabric supplier. It’s this expertise that makes it so clearly part of the stealth-wealth world. A natural focus on fabrics like double cashmere, Peruvian alpaca, and Chinese silk means that Agnona’s offering avoids overt branding or detailing, opting for versatile tailoring and elegant palettes.

Founded: 1986
City: Antwerp, Belgium
Instagram: @anndemeulemeester_official
SSENSE says: As one of the revered Antwerp Six, Ann Demeulemeester has a spot in fashion’s hall of fame. Coming up alongside some of fashion’s biggest avant-garde names, Demeulemeester’s work stood out not for eye-catching proportions and bold cuts but for its relative simplicity. The label’s almost entirely monochromatic collections are known for understated elegance, but always feature subtle forms of subversion for a characteristic punch of personality.

Founded: 1969
City: Milan, Italy
Instagram: @aspesiofficial
SSENSE says: Since it was founded in 1969, ASPESI has sought to make everyday garments as elegant as possible. This is not only a central concern of Italian fashion brands in general but of quiet luxury brands too. Offering casual tailoring in the form of quilted blazers all the way to technical down jackets, it’s no wonder that ASPESI is a go-to brand for those who need to look sharp while being on the move.

Founded: 2015
City: Tokyo, Japan
Instagram: @auralee_tokyo
SSENSE says: A large number of the most famous quiet luxury brands have been around for decades and even longer. Often, it’s this long history that has proven them as worthy of space in some of the world’s wealthiest wardrobes. For AURALEE, though, just eight years has been enough to assert itself as a leader in contemporary quiet luxury. Versatile collections made up of essential denim, casual tailoring, and a close focus on luxury knitwear have garnered meaningful attention, proving that there’s space for a new generation of quiet luxury.

Founded: 1994
City: Venice, Italy
Instagram: @barenavenezia
SSENSE says: Inspired by the garments worn by workers on the floodplains of Venice and its surrounding areas in the early twentieth century, Barena Venezia presents a refined take on workwear that sides with the formal. The label has a fabric-first design process, picking wool, linen, and cotton primarily sourced from Italian and British mills before beginning any specific garment designs.

Founded: 1945
City: Rome, Italy
Instagram: @brioni_official
SSENSE says: Beginning life as a tailoring company, Brioni quickly became a favorite of Rome’s upper classes and business set thanks to its exacting standards and artisanal approach. Since 1945, the label’s offering has broadened, evolving with the times to introduce modern aspects like drawstring trousers to its collections. But to this day, Brioni tailoring and knitwear remain its best-known and most-loved categories.

Founded: 1978
City: Corciano, Italy
Instagram: @brunellocucinelli_brand
SSENSE says: Although headquartered in Corciano, Italy, Brunello Cucinelli was founded in the village of Solomeo amongst the rolling Umbrian hills. Originating with a line of dyed cashmere, Brunello Cucinelli has stayed faithful to its roots, tethering its name to luxury cashmere knitwear while building out one of the world’s most respected tailoring lines.

Founded: 2003
City: Copenhagen, Denmark
Instagram: @bymalenebirger
SSENSE says: Scandinavian brands align naturally with the quiet luxury blueprint. With a design culture that praises the minimal yet refined, Denmark is the perfect home to By Malene Birger. Launched in 2003, the eponymous label is known for timeless silhouettes finished in neutral palettes that promise longevity and versatility.

Founded: 2004
City: New York, US
Instagram: @commonprojects
SSENSE says: Since 2004, Common Projects has asserted itself as the gold standard in minimal luxury sneakers. Removing all detailing apart from a signature gold-foil code to the external heel, the label created a clean yet immediately recognizable aesthetic that appeals across the style spectrum. The Common Projects Achilles sneaker represents everything that the brand stands for and is, unsurprisingly, the most popular model.

Founded: 1977
City: London, England
Instagram: @drakesdiary
SSENSE says: Founded in 1977, Drake’s has been creating high-quality classic menswear for long enough to be called an expert. During this time, the label has not waivered from its original mission of creating refined, hard-wearing pieces to bring sophistication to the everyday. Buoyed by a burgeoning taste for archival prep styles, Drake’s is more popular in 2023 than it has ever been—a testament to the power of originality and the label’s faith in its original purpose.

Founded: 1893
City: London, England
Instagram: @dunhill
SSENSE says: At more than a century old, Dunhill is one of the most storied houses in Europe. Known primarily for tailoring and accessories, the label’s collections have more recently evolved to suit a more modern wardrobe. Under the creative direction of Simon Holloway, Dunhill provides pared-back pieces that position tailoring and premium fabrics above trend cycles.

Founded: 1993
City: Stockholm, Sweden
Instagram: @filippa_k
SSENSE says: The luxurious fabrics and investment-level price point of quiet luxury style mean that the category innately lends itself to a more eco-conscious form of consumption. Filippa K’s design, which stands in contrast to the throwaway nature of modern fast fashion, epitomizes this. Trendproof garments are executed with premium, sustainable fabrics. Spanning basics to high-end formalwear, Filippa K presents an all-encompassing vision of modern style.

Founded: 2015
City: New York, US
Instagram: @gabrielahearst
SSENSE says: Growing up on her family’s 1,7000-acre ranch in Uruguay, Gabriela Hearst draws a clear connection between her upbringing in the countryside and her label’s luxurious knitwear. Focusing on sustainably sourced low-impact material of the highest quality, Gabriela Hearst pieces are heirloom-worthy. Texture and craftsmanship take the place of logos and bold coloring to attract attention.

Founded: 2019
City: Pasadena, US
Instagram: @ghiaiacashmere
SSENSE says: Ghiaia Cashmere founder Davide Baroncini refers to his label as an Italian brand with an American soul. Luxurious cashmere straddles the gap between loungewear and formalwear, easily siding with either depending on the way that it’s styled. From crew-neck sweaters to knit polos, the collection features all of the hallmarks of quiet luxury.

Founded: 1975
City: Milan, Italy
Instagram: @giorgioarmani
SSENSE says: In Martin Scorsese’s lesser-known 1990 documentary short Made in Milan, Giorgio Armani plainly states: “I’ve always insisted upon rigorous simplicity. I can’t stand exhibitionism.” It’s a mindset that has endeared generations of the wealthy and style-conscious to his eponymous label. Credited with breaking ground for casual tailoring, Giorgio Armani has evolved masterfully over time to remain at the forefront of menswear elegance.

Founded: 2022
City: New York, US
Instagram: @guestinresidence
SSENSE says: Talking to SSENSE, Gigi Hadid explains that “A Guest in Residence, to me, is someone that shows up to any place, situation, or event comfortable enough in their own self and what they’re wearing that they can be present in a real way.” Using cashmere as its material, Hadid’s Guest in Residence looks to create pieces that inspire confidence while standing the test of time.

Founded: 2014
City: Los Angeles, US
Instagram: @jacquesmariemage
SSENSE says: Inspired by classic eyewear designs, Jacques Marie Mage offers a taste of quiet luxury accessories. Made with artisans to ensure the highest levels of craftsmanship, Jacques Marie Mage glasses are built with a range of top-tier materials like cellulose acetate, mineral glass, sterling silver, and 18-karat gold. The result is a range of glasses that can be worn for a lifetime.

Founded: 1968
City: Milan, Italy
Instagram: @jilsander
SSENSE says: Jil Sander is an evergreen fixture of the luxury fashion landscape. As trends come and go, the Milan-based label stays strong to its understated ideals. Neutral palettes and restrained detailing underpin each and every garment, from outerwear to quiet luxury handbags.

Founded: 1978
City: Filottrano, Italy
Instagram: @lardiniofficial
SSENSE says: For family-run label Lardini, tradition and sophistication are fundamental values. Having made garments for names like Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, and Burberry, Lardini has proven its mettle as one of fashion’s best artisans and continues to live up to that with a collection offering softly tailored ready-to-wear that’s imbued with a long and proud heritage.

Founded: 1991
City: Paris, France
Instagram: @lemaire_official
SSENSE says: LEMAIRE is a prolific luxury label that needs no introduction. Helmed by Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran, the Parisian label offers a way to dress that’s as beautiful as it is practical. Flowing, relaxed cuts reign supreme while seasonal palettes define each collection. From leather accessories to tailoring, LEMAIRE stands for timelessness and effortless sophistication.

Founded: 1987
City: Los Angeles, US
Instagram: @oliverpeoples
SSENSE says: Without any major branding on its frames, Oliver Peoples has succeeded in building the kind of cultural capital that most brands can only dream of. Through cult film references and reputation alike, Oliver Peoples has asserted itself as the eyewear brand for the discerning customer.

Founded: 1994
City: New York, US
SSENSE says: Ralph Lauren Purple Label represents the highest level of Ralph Lauren design. Imbuing European style with Americana ruggedness, the offshoot revolves around everyday tailoring cut from premium wools. Nodding to the high-end pedigree of the entire Ralph Lauren empire, the more everyday items in the collection resurrect archival logos.

Founded: 1860
City: Nottingham, England
Instagram: @sunspelclothing
SSENSE says: With a history running all the way back to the mid-nineteenth century, Sunspel is the definition of a heritage brand. Credited with creating some of the world’s first T-shirts, it’s no understatement to say that Sunspel paved the way for modern luxury fashion as a whole. Famed for its luxury knitwear and underwear, Sunspel has carved out a dedicated following that returns each season for favorite pieces like the Riviera polo shirts or cashmere crew necks.

Founded: 2006
City: New York, US
Instagram: @therow
SSENSE says: With The Row, founders Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have drawn a blueprint for celebrities hoping to make a legitimate switch to fashion. Now better known for their label’s ethereal, flowing tailoring than their child stardom, the Olsen sisters have built one of stealth wealth’s modern powerhouses. Supple Italian leather forms quiet luxury handbags while overcoats cut from first-rate wool drape elegantly; devoid of any branding, it’s the textures and shapes that have come to define The Row.